Hibiscus plant named ‘Boreas’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Boreas’, characterized by its upright, somewhat, outwardly spreading and dense and bushy plant habit; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; large pale yellow-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers; and good flower longevity.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination ‘Boreas’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Boreas’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Sabro, Denmark. The objective of the breeding program is to create new strong Hibiscus plants with attractive and long-lasting flowers.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from an open-pollination in August, 2006 in Sabro, Denmark of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Caribbean Apricot’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hibiscus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark in June, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro,

Denmark since September, 2007, has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Boreas’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Boreas’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus:

-   -   1. Upright, somewhat, outwardly spreading and dense and bushy         plant habit.     -   2. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Large pale yellow-colored flowers with dark red-colored         centers.     -   5. Good flower longevity.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Caribbean Apricot’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of ‘Caribbean Apricot’ in flower longevity as flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus last about three to five days whereas flowers of plants of ‘Caribbean Apricot’ last about one to two days.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Cairo White’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Sabro, Denmark, plants of the new Hibiscus differed from plants of ‘Cairo White’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus were more freely branching than         plants of ‘Cairo White’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus had wider leaves than plants of         ‘Cairo White’.     -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus had broader flowers buds than         plants of ‘Cairo White’.     -   4. Plants of the new Hibiscus had larger flowers than plants of         ‘Cairo White’.     -   5. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Cairo White’         differed slightly in color.     -   6. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus lasted about four to         five days whereas flowers of plants of ‘Cairo White’ lasted         about one day.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Hibiscus plant, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hibiscus plant. The photograph comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Boreas’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Sabro, Denmark in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouses during the summer under conditions which closely approximate commercial Hibiscus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from 40 to 50 klux. Plants were 22 weeks old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Boreas’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Caribbean             Apricot’, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Unknown selection of Hibiscus             rosa-sinensis, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures of 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four weeks at             temperatures of 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About eight             weeks at temperatures of 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About ten             weeks at temperatures of 24° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; color, close             to 158A.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright, somewhat outwardly             spreading and dense and bushy plant habit; moderately             vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about five to             eight lateral branches develop; pinching enhances lateral             branch development.         -   Plant height.—About 35 cm to 55 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 35 cm to 55 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 18 cm to 30 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 4 mm to 8 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Woody.         -   Color.—Close to N198A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.         -   Length.—About 6 cm to 9 cm.         -   Width.—About 6 cm to 10 cm.         -   Shape.—Cordate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse, cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 135A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A; venation,             close to 138A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 137A; venation, close to 138B.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 2 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: Close to 138A. Color, lower surface: Close to             138B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Flowers arranged singly at terminal leaf             axils. Uniform, continuous and freely flowering habit with             numerous flower buds and/or open flowers per plant at one             time; flowers face mostly upright to slightly outwardly.         -   Flower appearance.—Rounded, pale yellow-colored flowers with             red-colored centers.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity.—Good flower longevity, flowers last for             about four to five days; flowers persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Usually spring and summer or             during periods of warm weather; plants flower year-round in             the greenhouse.         -   Flower diameter.—About 16 cm to 20 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 11 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Rate of opening: Flowers buds open in about             three days. Length: About 7 cm to 9 cm. Diameter: About 2 cm             to 3 cm. Shape: Ovate to lanceolate. Color: Close to 154C.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals that             are fused at base; petals imbricate. Length: About 10 cm to             11 cm. Width: About 9 cm to 10 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:             Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire, undulate. Texture:             Glabrous; rugose. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to 2D; towards the base, close to 53A. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 2D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to             4D; towards the base, close to 53A. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to 2D.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a tubular             star-shaped calyx. Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About             1.2 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Margin: Entire.             Texture, upper surface: Rough. Texture, lower surface:             Smooth. Color, upper surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 145A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Angle: About 20° to 30° from the lateral branch axis.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to             144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,             about 100. Filament length: About 4 mm to 5 mm. Filament             color: Close to 155D. Anther shape: Rounded to ovate. Anther             length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Anther color: Close to 21D.             Amount of pollen: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 21A.             Gynoecium: Pistil length: About 10 cm. Style length: About             9 cm. Style texture: Smooth, waxy. Style color: Close to             46A. Stigma appearance: Five-parted, rounded. Stigma color:             Close to 12B. Ovary color: Close to 145A.         -   Seeds.—Quantity produced per flower: About one to twelve.             Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Color: Close to             202A. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed     to have tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 30° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus. 

1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Boreas’ as illustrated and described. 